Elderly Muslim Men Assaulted in Budaun; Accused Arrested After Video Sparks Political Row
Viral clip from Uttar Pradesh triggers outrage as Congress blames BJP-RSS ideology; police confirm arrest.
A video showing the alleged assault of elderly Muslim men in Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh has triggered widespread outrage on social media and sparked a political confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition.
The incident reportedly took place on February 15, 2026, in the Islamnagar area of Budaun. The video, which has since gone viral, shows a young man confronting a group of elderly Muslim men, forcing them to remove their caps and chasing them. The man has been identified by the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Indian National Congress as Akshay Thakur, who was described as a leader associated with the Bajrang Dal.
Following public outrage, Budaun Police confirmed on Saturday that a case was registered at Islamnagar Police Station. Authorities stated that the accused has been arrested and sent to jail in connection with the incident.
The Congress party strongly condemned the attack. Sharing the video on social media, the party alleged that the “vicious ideology” of the BJP and the RSS has deepened divisions in the country. The opposition party claimed that incidents targeting minorities have increased since 2014 and described the episode as part of a broader pattern of hate-driven violence.
Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Congress MP from Kishanganj, also shared the video and expressed concern over what he described as rising incidents of targeted intimidation in BJP-ruled states.
The ruling BJP has not issued an official response to the Congress’ allegations at the time of publication.
The matter remains under investigation.
